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The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London has opened the exhibition Sacred Treasures from Kyiv, presenting seven unique objects from the collection of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” to a British audience for the first time.
The exhibition opened on September 14, 2026, at V&A South Kensington and will run until September 17, 2027.
The exhibition introduces visitors to outstanding examples of Ukrainian sacred art from the Baroque period, created by Kyiv goldsmiths in the 17th and 18th centuries. Seven objects are on display, including key items used in the Ukrainian Orthodox liturgical tradition: an icon, an altar Gospel in a silver binding — a liturgical book used during Christian worship — a Eucharistic diskos, and a silver-gilt chalice depicting the Crucifixion.
The objects are displayed in the V&A’s Sacred Silver and Stained Glass galleries and Silver Galleries alongside other works from the museum’s collection.
The exhibition was developed as part of a long-term partnership between the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, with support from the British Council and Gilbert Trust for the Arts, and with the participation of the Ukrainian Institute, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom.
The opening was attended by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna, V&A Director Tristram Hunt, British Council Deputy Director for Global Network Sam Harvey, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Director General of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” Maksym Ostapenko, and representatives of the Ukrainian and British cultural communities.
“Ukraine’s cultural heritage is an integral part of world history and deserves appropriate international representation grounded in Ukrainian knowledge and expertise. The presentation of the sacred treasures of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra at the V&A demonstrates the important role of Ukrainian state institutions, researchers and curators in shaping how our heritage is studied and presented to the world. Such partnerships strengthen international cooperation and create new opportunities for researching, preserving and protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage,” Berezhna said.
A special place in the exhibition is occupied by two silver-gilt Royal Doors originating from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and held by the V&A on long-term loan from Gilbert Trust for the Arts. Displaying objects from the Lavra alongside a revised interpretation of the Royal Doors helps restore their Ukrainian historical and artistic context.
For decades, their cataloguing and interpretation relied on a Russian imperial framework, while their Ukrainian origins and cultural significance received insufficient attention.
The V&A and the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, with additional support from the Ukrainian Institute and ICOM UK, have worked together to provide a fuller account of the history of the Royal Doors. The project forms part of broader changes in international museum practice, particularly in how Ukrainian heritage held in collections abroad is researched, described and presented.
“These national treasures demonstrate the exceptional craftsmanship of Ukrainian silversmiths and reveal the rich artistic heritage preserved by the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. We hope that this display and the conference in September will contribute to a deeper understanding of Ukraine’s unique heritage and encourage cooperation across the cultural sector to further research and share Ukraine’s remarkable history with the world,” V&A Director Tristram Hunt said.
“Sacred Treasures from Kyiv gives British audiences an opportunity to engage more closely with the cultural and spiritual heritage of one of Ukraine’s most important historic centres. This is particularly important today, as Ukraine’s culture, heritage and identity continue to face deliberate attacks during Russia’s war. We are proud to support the partnership between the V&A and the National Preserve ‘Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’ and to help create opportunities for Ukrainian and British cultural professionals to work together, exchange expertise and build long-term professional relationships. This is precisely the kind of cooperation we seek to develop through the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership,” British Council Deputy Director for Global Network Sam Harvey said.
Founded in the 11th century, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has for centuries been one of Ukraine’s leading centres of religious life, artistic activity, education and patronage. The exhibition opened in the year marking the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the centenary of the National Preserve.
“This exhibition gives us an opportunity to tell a story that extends far beyond these remarkable objects themselves. The silver Royal Doors, together with other treasures from the collection of the National Preserve ‘Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’, reveal an entire chapter of Ukrainian cultural heritage that remains little known outside Ukraine. Through these works, international audiences can discover the Ukrainian school of sacred goldsmithing of the 18th century — one of the greatest achievements of Ukrainian Baroque art. It is particularly important to us that, through our partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, this story will be presented to the world and placed in an international context as an integral part of Europe’s shared cultural heritage,” Maksym Ostapenko, Director General of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, said.
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is a British museum of art and design. Founded in 1852, its collection today comprises more than 2.8 million objects spanning around 5,000 years of human creativity. The V&A organises exhibitions, researches and preserves cultural heritage, and works with international partners.
